Windshield wiper



L. T. NlxoN wINnsHIELD wIFEn Filed March 4. 1927 Patented Nov. 22 i927.

UNITED STATES LEVI T. NIXON, F JET,'OKLAHOMA.

WINDSHIELD WIPER.

Application led March 4, 1927. Serial No. 172,675.

This invention" relates to windshield wipers and it has for its object to provide a device of this characterA provided with means for heating the same.

It is a well knownfact that many serious accidents have bec'ncaused bythe obscuring of the vision ot' the drivers of automobiles by the presenceofice or suon on the windshield. Automatically operated windshield lo wipers offvariouskinflsare on the-market.

Some of these yareoperatedby the vacuum from the intak'e'j'manifold: others are elec'- trically operated..v` vltis the `primary purpose the prese n-vention to provide any suitable type-"of` windshield wiper, whether manually .oij"*automatically vtaper-ated. with electrical heating-means.iucoijp vrated therein, for the ffpurp se lotlso sing? the temperature offt-h"`l` o th' windshield .that ice and snowV late thereon.'

Further," y, of the 1nrentionfwi orthl'n" thel detailed description follows.

Aan'ying drawings:

ide'elevation of a windshield tedfin44 accordance with the incertain of t-he'- parts in seo- -Itigwrear `elevation thereof.

"l" ig. isuavertical sectional view through 4the'upper end of the wiper. v Fig. 4 is a, plan view thereof, and

5 Vis a horizontal sectional view upon line` 5-5 of Fig. 3, but upon an enlarged scale;`

Like numerals designate corresponding partsfthroughout the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing, 5 designates the frame and 6 the glass of a conventional type of windshield. A conventional operating mechanism 7 which serves to impart oscillation to a shaft 8 and arm 9. is mounted in the usual way at the top of the windshield. A screw 10 secures a clip 11 in any adjusted position upon the arm 9. A T-shaped bracket has its shank 12 pivoted at 13 within the clip 11 and has its head welded solid or otherwise secured to a U-shaped casing 14 which constitutes the body of the wiper proper. The edges of this casing 14 are suitably formed to receive rubber wipingI strips 14 which are adapted to bear against the outer surface of the glass 6 and to wipe the same in other suitable insulating material is dispose(l the usual way. A lining 17 of asbestos or` within the shell 14 and servesfto prevent loss of heat. An electric heating element, such as a coiled wire 16, extends the full length of the casing 14. It is grounded at its lower cud to the casing 14, and at its upper end is connected to a conductor 19, which leads through the frame 5, and along any suitable path where it will not obstruct the vision through the windshield, to the electrical supply of the vehicle. I prefer to connectit into the electric circuit at the ammeter as indicated at 20.` A switch 21, ineluded in the lengthwofthis conductor, provides means for"'c`uttiug 0H' the current to the,heating element 16, when desired. The upper end ot' the element 16 is suitably insulated from the casing 14 by means of a rubber or other insulating plug 22.

It is manifest that withithe switch 21 closed, currentl will be delivered to the heating element 16. The heat delivered from said element being confined between the strips i5, will so raise the temperature of the glass as to prevent the formation of ice or snow thereon. It is a fact, particularly with closed cars. that the ytemperature of the glass is ordinarily Very nearly high enough to prevent the formation of ice or snow. It needs only a little additional heat to completely prevent the formation of ice and snow and this is etfectually supplied by the device of the present invention, with the result that vision is always maintained clear and .unobstructe'd. -By connecting the device into the electric circuit at the ammeter, I am able to use current either from the battery or from the generator of the automobile and the ammeter will indicate the amount of; current being used.

It is to be understood that theinventiom is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described.A

comprising an oscillatory arm. an elongated casing supported therefrom of tubular formation at its upper and lower ends and of` channels,

.per and lower ends, the sides of the U-shaped portion comprising return bends constitutmg channels, rubber strips gripped in said an insulating plug seated in the uppenend tubular portion of the easing, a. conducting rod extending through the insulating plug, ra rrying means for attaching a conducting wire thereto, a spiral heating Wire oonnerted to the lower end of said rod and extending the full length of the U- shaped portion ol` the easing and grounded at the lower tubular portion of the easing, a lining of heat insulating material within the casing extending about the sides and across the rear side thereof, but open at the side thereof toward the glass to he wiped, .so that said glass will be exposed to the direct action of the heat from said wire.

In testimony whereof he afxes hisI signature.

LEVI T. NIKON. 

